Overloaded Power Cords Sparked Brownell Ave. Fire: Official

HARTFORD — Overloaded power cords sparked a smoky fire that injured three people and drove dozens from their South End apartment complex Tuesday, a fire official said.

One family — three adults and a 6-year-old boy — was displaced.

The fire at 7 Brownell Ave. was reported shortly before 6:30 a.m. Residents who had been sleeping or getting ready for work or school were able to get out of the 36-unit apartment complex, some with help from firefighters.

Three people were taken to Hartford Hospital; two had inhaled smoke and a third person broke his ankle while trying to get out of the burning building, fire officials and residents said. All three were treated and released.

The fire didn't spread beyond the first floor, but it produced heavy smoke that surged through the brick apartment complex.

When firefighters arrived, "There was smoke on all three floors of the building," said interim Assistant Fire Chief Scott Brady.

The fire was out in 17 minutes, Fire Capt. Helene Lynch said.

"All others were able to return to their homes due to a diligent response by the owner," Lynch said Tuesday afternoon.

The 6-year-old smelled smoke when he was playing video games before going to school, Lynch said. He alerted his grandmother and they got out of the apartment, she said.

The building's smoke detectors were working, Brady said, and they alerted resident Edwin Santiago to the fire.

"I was getting ready to go to work," said Santiago, who lives on the second floor. "I heard the alarm going off. That gave me the heads-up that something was going on."

He told Marielena Molina to get their two Chihuahuas and get out. She put them in a carrier and they left.

Manuel Lopez said the alarms woke him up. He and his wife, Julia Lopez, got out of their first-floor apartment.

"They won't let me go inside," he said as he stood with his wife around the block from the building. She was holding one of the blankets that the fire department gave out, still neatly folded.

Sonia Rodriguez sat nearby with a blanket around her. She said the fire was put out quickly and described the police officers and firefighters as "nice."

"Good guys," added her husband, Jose Angel Rodriguez.

Florenzo Whalen Sr., who had been staying overnight in his mother's apartment, said he was glad that no one was seriously injured.

"Everybody got out safe. I'm happy for that."

The Red Cross was assisting three people — a child and two adults — after the fire, according to the organization.